1. Professional Exam Information Session
August 2017

2. November 4th, 2017 Professional Exam
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) 10am – 2pm
Room: Nexen Theater Y240

3. Why do we have a professional exam?
Successfully passing the professional exam is a requirement of gaining
your full title
Registered Professional Forest Technologist Regulation
Part 1 - Registration
Division 1 – General Registration
Section 5(1)
(d) “the applicant meets the grade of performance requirements
prescribed by the council on the professional examination.”
Registered Professional Foresters Regulation
Part 1 - Registration
Division 3 – Registration of and Requirements for Registered Professional Foresters
Section 5
(c) “the grade or performance requirements prescribed by the council on the
Professional examinations.”

4. What is the professional exam?
The professional exam is a method of demonstrating an individual’s knowledge of professionalism, ethics, as well as the provincial and federal legislation and policy involved with our industry
This is currently done through a structured exam that members write as part of their registration requirements to gain their full title (RPF and RPFT)
Along with complete education requirements (NAIT & UofA), completed work experience and
paper work such as mentorship forms it allows a member the following;
Write to title, “Registered Professional Forester” or
“Registered Professional Forest Technologist”
Professional sign off (seal/ stamp)
May be a condition of employment

5. Choose six out of twelve to answer
What does the exam look like?
The professional exam will be sixteen questions, divided between two parts
Part A
Mandatory
Four questions
Historically this section covers aspects of professionalism, ethics, college business including the complaints process and competence programs.
You must achieve 65% in this section to pass the exam.
Failure to achieve 65% in this section will result in a writer failing the entire exam.
Part B
Choose six out of twelve to answer
This section has twelve possible questions covering a variety of topics.
A writer must choose any six to answer. If you answer more than six the first six in order will be marked and the rest disregarded.
When a question is answered, please answer all of it, you cannot pick and choose parts of questions.

6. What does the exam look like?
-continued-
Writers must achieve 65% in Part A, as well as an overall mark of 65% to successfully pass the professional exam.
When the writer is finished, they should have answered ten questions.
Each question is worth 10 marks, and is comprised of multiple sub-questions.
The questions will always take the form of short answer or essay style response.
The morning of, just before the writing is to begin you will be provided with an exam package. It will contain the questions, as well as several sheets of blank, lined paper to put your answers on.

7. Code in Principal reading list Code in Principal reading list
Exam Topics?
Part A
Part B
Code in Principal reading list
Topic Exam Part
CPP
College Policies and Procedures PP
Professional Practice
FLF
Forestry Legislation Framework
IRM
Integrated Resource Management
Code in Principal reading list
Topic Exam Part FT
Forest Tenure
FMP
Forest Management Planning
THP
Timber Harvest Planning
REF
Reforestation
WFM
Wildfire Management
HWM
Hydrology and Watershed Management LU
Land Use
REC
Reclamation FH
Forest Health
DAO
Delegated Administrative Organizations
FWM
Fish and Wildlife Management RM
Range Management
*You must achieve 65% in this section to pass the exam.
Choose six

8. What does the exam look like?
-continued-
Sample Question
QUESTION B9 – Federal Legislation
The Alberta Natural Resources Act of 1930 transferred control of crown lands and natural resources within Alberta from the federal government to the provincial government. There is still federal legislation that influences operational forest activities at the provincial level, especially with respect to environmental impacts and required authorities.
Name four (4) Federal Acts that directly influence forest management in Alberta. (2.0 marks)
For three (3) of the above Acts, explain how each Act influences forest management. (6.0 marks)
What is the purpose of COSEWIC? (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada). How does COSEWIC’s wildlife species designation differ from the List of Wildlife Species at Risk in Canada? (2.0 marks)

9. What does the exam look like?
-continued-
Sample Question
QUESTION B9 – Federal Legislation
The Alberta Natural Resources Act of 1930 transferred control of crown lands and natural resources within Alberta from the federal government to the provincial government. There is still federal legislation that influences operational forest activities at the provincial level, especially with respect to environmental impacts and required authorities.
Name four (4) Federal Acts that directly influence forest management in Alberta. (2.0 marks)
For three (3) of the above Acts, explain how each Act influences forest management. (6.0 marks)
What is the purpose of COSEWIC? (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada). How does COSEWIC’s wildlife species designation differ from the List of Wildlife Species at Risk in Canada? (2.0 marks)
Question is #9 in Part B
Question topic

10. What does the exam look like?
-continued-
Sample Question
QUESTION B9 – Federal Legislation
The Alberta Natural Resources Act of 1930 transferred control of crown lands and natural resources within Alberta from the federal government to the provincial government. There is still federal legislation that influences operational forest activities at the provincial level, especially with respect to environmental impacts and required authorities.
Name four (4) Federal Acts that directly influence forest management in Alberta. (2.0 marks)
For three (3) of the above Acts, explain how each Act influences forest management. (6.0 marks)
What is the purpose of COSEWIC? (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada). How does COSEWIC’s wildlife species designation differ from the List of Wildlife Species at Risk in Canada? (2.0 marks)
Blurb providing context
-not always given-

11. What does the exam look like?
-continued-
Sample Question
QUESTION B9 – Federal Legislation
The Alberta Natural Resources Act of 1930 transferred control of crown lands and natural resources within Alberta from the federal government to the provincial government. There is still federal legislation that influences operational forest activities at the provincial level, especially with respect to environmental impacts and required authorities.
Name four (4) Federal Acts that directly influence forest management in Alberta. (2.0 marks)
For three (3) of the above Acts, explain how each Act influences forest management. (6.0 marks)
What is the purpose of COSEWIC? (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada). How does COSEWIC’s wildlife species designation differ from the List of Wildlife Species at Risk in Canada? (2.0 marks)
Sub questions

12. What does the exam look like?
-continued-
Sample Question
QUESTION B9 – Federal Legislation
The Alberta Natural Resources Act of 1930 transferred control of crown lands and natural resources within Alberta from the federal government to the provincial government. There is still federal legislation that influences operational forest activities at the provincial level, especially with respect to environmental impacts and required authorities.
Name four (4) Federal Acts that directly influence forest management in Alberta. (2.0 marks)
For three (3) of the above Acts, explain how each Act influences forest management. (6.0 marks)
What is the purpose of COSEWIC? (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada). How does COSEWIC’s wildlife species designation differ from the List of Wildlife Species at Risk in Canada? (2.0 marks)

13. What do I study? Where do I find it?
The Forestry Commons via CAPFT website
The reading list is a list of documents that writers should study going into the professional exam. The reading list is found at:
Time is at a premium; we understand that finding study time requires balancing your career, and personal life. To help manage your study time I would focus your time in chunks;
Pay attention to the following Topics:
Registered Professional Forest Act, and Regulation
Forest Act & Timber Management Regulation
Alberta Land Stewardship Act
College Specific practices – (Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct, Complaints Process)

16. READ THESE

17. What’s the difference?
When studying college specific topics, members should refer to their individual college’s documents
This covers topics such as;
Ethics & Code of Practice
Bylaws
Complaints Process
Council Structure
Regulations from Regulated Forestry Profession Act
Discipline & Appeal Process
Continuing Competence Program
CAPF website – CAPFT website –
This is a temporary measure until the final bylaws are finalized and our new Act is proclaimed

18. It depends on your personal study habits
How do I study?
It depends on your personal study habits
We encourage members writing to form their own study groups. This allows for the trading of study documents and participate in group sessions to quiz one another and identify areas for improvement.
We have create a Facebook group to bring everyone together. The group is private and you will receive your invitation via .
If you do not currently have a Facebook account I would encourage you to create one, if only to participate in this group.
This will also provide me an opportunity to check in with writers, answer questions and seek feedback about things like this info session.

19. Think back to your post secondary education
How do I study?
Think back to your post secondary education
We have all been through a post secondary institution of some kind, whether that be UoA or NAIT.
Flash cards, acronyms and rhythms are still as effect as ever at retaining content.
Pick topics areas to focus on that you already have a base knowledge with.
Please DO NOT disregard a topic on the “MUST KNOW” list because you don’t find it interesting.
We are not trying to test on a writers ability to memorize content and regurgitate it, you are given ample opportunity to get your point across in your own words.
Set yourself a study schedule, and stick to it.

20. Questions?

21. Don’t forget to claim your hours
Continuing Competence Program
Don’t forget to claim your hours
Foresters claim Level 1 GT
Forest Technologists claim Category 1, under Study Sessions